Novel arginine vasopressin-binding peptides

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns novel AVP-binding peptides having the formula: 
     
         Thr-Met-X-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro-B 
    
     wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, and Asp; B is OH, NH 2 , NHAlk, wherein Alk is lower alkyl of 1-4 carbons, inclusive. These peptides block AVP function, and, therefore, are useful in many areas among which is the control of hypertension.

The work disclosed herein was supported, in part, by Grant CA39048 fromthe National Institutes of Health.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neurohypophyseal (posterior pituitary)nonapeptide that plays an important regulatory role in individuals withrespect to a number of functions. These include: (a) antidiureticeffects by acting on specific receptors in the kidney; (b) vasopressoreffects which, in concert with other peptide hormones, regulate systemicarterial pressure; (c) modulation of the stress response by directstimulation of release of corticotropin (ACTH) and by enhancement ofACTH release by corticotropin releasing factor; (d) enhancement oflearning and memory; (e) functioning as a neurotransmitter; and (f)positive regulation of immune function by providing a helper signal forinduction of the lymphokine gamma interferon (IFN γ) (Johnson, H. M., W.L. Farrar, and B. A. Torres [1982] J. Immunol. 129:963; and Johnson, H.M. and B. A. Torres [1985] J. Immunol. 135:773s). To date the soleapproach to modulation of AVP activity has been through the use ofcompetitive antagonists for receptors (Manning, M. and Sawyer, W. H. inVasopressin [ed. Schrier, R. W.] 131-144, Raven Press, New York, 1985;and Stassen, F. L., Heckman, G. D., Schmidt, D. B., Stefankiewicz, J.,Sulat, L., Huffman, W. F., Moore, M. M., and Kinter, L. B. inVasopressin [ed. Schrier, R. W.] 145-154, Raven Press, New York, 1985).

Recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,901 is directed to "β-Indolyalanylor β-Indolylglycinyl Vasopressin Antagonists," and U.S. Pat. No.4,719,199 is directed to "Diuretic Compositions and Methods of ProducingDiuresis." The latter patent results from a divisional application ofthe former patent. These patents disclose AVP antagonists and their useas diuretics.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention concerns novel AVP-binding peptides having theformula:

    Thr-Met-X-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro-B

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg, and Asp; Bis OH, NH₂ or NHAlk. "Alk" is lower alkyl of 1-4 carbons, inclusive.Advantageously, the novel peptides of the invention bind to AVP andblock AVP function. The AVP-binding peptides of the invention differfrom AVP analogs that have been previously synthesized. The AVPantagonists that have been synthesized to date all block AVP activitythrough direct interaction with the AVP cellular receptor. On the otherhand, the AVP-binding peptides of the invention block AVP activity byactually binding to AVP itself. Thus the interaction of AVP bindingpeptides with AVP results in an antagonist of AVP action.

The AVP-binding peptides of the subject invention can be used to blockboth antidiuretic and vasopressor activities, resulting in decreasedblood volume and decreased blood pressure. Accordingly, the AVP-bindingpeptides of the invention would be useful in the control ofhypertension. The AVP-binding peptides also can be used in thedown-regulation of AVP-modulated immune responses. This would beimportant for the treatment of allergic disorders and immune complexdiseases. AVP-binding peptides may also help control or reduce thestress response by decreasing the release of corticotrophin. Thus, theAVP-binding peptides may be powerful therapeutic tools for the controlof AVP-modulated physiologic responses.

The AVP-binding peptides can be used in a solid-matrix binding assay inwhich AVP specifically competes with ³ H-AVP for binding to immobilizedAVP-binding peptide. This is useful for the detection of AVP in serumand tissue. Further, the AVP-binding peptides can be coupled to a gelmatrix. The resulting affinity column can be used to purify AVP fromtissue extracts. These above two techniques, used in combination, willenable both the detection and purification of AVP from various sources.

Also included in this invention are addition salts, complexes, orprodrugs such as esters of the compounds of this invention when B is OH,especially the nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts.The acid addition salts are prepared in standard manner in a suitablesolvent from the parent compound and an excess of an acid, such ashydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, acetic, maleic,succinic, ethanedisulfonic or methanesulfonic acids. The end products ofthe formula have two strong basic groups in their structures, therefore,their acid addition salt derivatives of the acid forms of the endproducts, such as the methyl or ethyl esters, are prepared as known tothe art. These salts, complexes, or prodrugs are useful as AVP-bindingcompounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Drawing

FIG. 1--Specific binding of ³ H-AVP to AVP-binding peptideThr-Met-Lys-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro. AVP-binding peptide (200 μl of a 2mg/ml solution) was bound overnight at 4°°C. onto 96-well Immulon plates(Dynatech, Alexandria, Va.). Plates were washed three times withphosphate-buffered saline containing 5% BSA and 0.1% TWEEN™ 20 (bindingbuffer). Remaining binding sites were bound by incubating plates at roomtemperature with 20 μl binding buffer/well for 2 hr. After extensivewashing, cold AVP (10 μM) was added to the appropriate plates 20 minprior to the addition of ³ H-AVP. Solid matrix binding was carried outat room temperature for 1 hr. Plates were washed three times and countswere solubilized with 1 N NaOH. Counts were then placed in scintillationvials and counted on a beta-scintillation counter. Specific binding of.sup. 3H-AVP was the difference between the binding in the absence andpresence of cold AVP.

AVP and its 6-amino acid N-terminus cyclic ring pressinoic acid (PA) areboth capable of replacing the interleukin 2 (IL 2) requirement for gammainterferon (IFN γ) production by mouse splenic lymphocytes. We show thatthe AVP-binding peptide specifically and reversibly blocks AVP help inIFNγ production, but fails to block the helper signal of PA. Thus theintact AVP molecule, and not just the N-terminal cyclic ring, isimportant for interaction with the binding peptide. AVP interacts withthe binding peptide with an apparent K_(D) of approximately 50 nM. TheAVP-binding peptide does not inhibit AVP interaction with its receptoron lymphocytes. Interestingly, while the AVP-binding peptide does notblock the PA helper signal for IFN γ induction, the complex of AVP andbinding peptide does reversibly block the PA signal. The AVP family ofhormones requires conformational flexibility for signal transduction.Thus, we hypothesize that the AVP-binding peptide restricts thisflexibility and converts AVP into an antagonist of its own action.

Following are examples which illustrate the process of the invention,including the best mode. These examples should not be construed aslimiting. All solvent mixture proportions are by volume unless otherwisenoted.

EXAMPLE 1 Ability Of AVP-Binding Peptide To Specifically Block TheHelper Signal in IFNγ Production

Induction of IFNγ by T-cell mitogens such as staphylococcal enterotoxinA (SEA) requires a T helper signal that is mediated by IL 2 (Torres, B.A., Farrar, W. L. and Johnson, H. M. [1982] J. Immunol. 128:2217-2219).AVP and PA can replace the IL 2 signal (Johnson et al. [1982] supra;Johnson and Torres [1985] supra; and Torres, B. A. and Johnson, H. M.[1988] J. Immunol. 140, April). The ability of peptideThr-Met-Lys-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro to block or inhibit the AVP helpersignal for IFNγ production is illustrated for the C57B1/6 mouse spleencell system in Table 1 (Expt. 1). Removal of helper cells by treatmentof spleen cells with anti-Lyt 1.2 antibodies plus complement abrogatedcompetence for IFNγ induction by SEA. AVP and IL 2 restored competenceat relatively low concentrations as previously shown (Johnson et al.[1982] supra; and Johnson and Torres [1985] supra). The above peptideblocked restoration of competence by AVP at 100 μM, but had noinhibitory effect on IL 2 help. The blockage of AVP function by thepeptide was reversed or overcome by increasing the concentration of AVPin the spleen cell cultures (Table 1, Expt. 2).

The above observations suggest that the peptide blocked AVP function bydirect interaction with the hormone. Evidence for such directinteraction is provided by the binding data of FIG. 1, where ³ H-AVPbound to the peptide coupled to a solid matrix with an apparent K_(D) ofapproximately 50 nM. The binding was inhibited by excess cold AVP. Weconclude that the peptide blocks AVP function through direct binding toAVP.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Ability of AVP-binding peptide to specifically                                block the helper signal in IFN γ production                                                         Binding                                           Mitogen-stimulated                                                                        AVP     IL 2    peptide                                                                              IFN γ                                spleen cell cultures                                                                      (nM)    (U/ml)  (μM)                                                                              (U/ml ± SD)                             ______________________________________                                        Expt 1                                                                        Whole       --      --      --     475 ± 35                                Whole       --      --      150    825 ± 35                                Helper cell depleted                                                                      --      --      --     <3                                         Helper cell depleted                                                                      10      --      --     255 ± 7                                 Helper cell depleted                                                                      10      --       50    625 ± 35                                Helper cell depleted                                                                      10      --      100    <3                                         Helper cell depleted                                                                      10      --      150    <3                                         Helper cell depleted                                                                      --      3       --     300 ± 71                                Helper cell depleted                                                                      --      3       150    650 ± 71                                Expt 2                                                                        Whole       --      --      --     120 ± 28                                Helper cell depleted                                                                      1000    --      100    <3                                         Helper cell depleted                                                                      3000    --      100    350 ± 71                                ______________________________________                                    

Helper cell depletion was carried out as described previously (Johnsonet al. [1982] supra). Briefly, C57B1/6 spleen cells (1 ml at 3 to 5×10⁷cells/ml), 1 ml of a 10⁻³ dilution of monoclonal anti-Lyt 1.2 antibody(New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.) and guinea pig complement (0.167 mlof serum) were mixed and incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. Cells were thenwashed twice and viability was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion.Untreated whole spleen cells and anti-Lyt 1.2-treated spleen cells wereplaced in 24-well plates (Falcon, Oxnard, CA) at a final concentrationof 1.5×10⁷ viable cells/ml in a final volume of 0.3 ml. Experiments werecarried out in duplicate and all cultures were induced for IFNγproduction with 0.5 μg/ml staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA; ToxinTechnology, Madison, WI) for 3 days in the presence of synthetic AVP(Peninsula Laboratories, Torrance, Calif.), recombinant human IL 2(Hoffman-La Roche, Nutley, N.J.), and AVP-binding peptide. Culturesupernatants were assayed for IFNγ activity on mouse L cells usingvesicular stomatitis virus as described in Langford, M. P., Weigent, D.A., Stanton, G. J., and Baron, S. (1981) Methods in Enzym. 78:339-346.The IFN activity in these cultures was IFNγ as determined byneutralization with specific antisera (Osborne, L. C., Georgiades, J.A., and Johnson, H. M. [1980] Cell Immunol. 53:65-70). AVP-bindingpeptide was synthesized using a Biosearch 9500 Peptide Synthesizer. Dataare representative of at least 5 experiments.

The novel peptides of the invention were synthesized using a Biosearch9500 Peptide Synthesizer (Biosearch, Inc., San Rafael, Calif.). Also,the novel AVP-binding peptides of the subject invention can bechemically synthesized by solid phase synthetic techniques such as t-BOCand FMOC (Merrifield, R.B. [1963] J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 85:2149; andChang, C. and Meienhofer, J. [1978] Int. J. Peptide Protein Res.11:246). The above publications are incorporated herein by referencethereto.

EXAMPLE 2 Effect of Changes in the Amino Acid Sequence of AVP-BindingPeptide on its Ability to Block IFNγ Production

The formula for the peptides of the invention is as follows:Thr-Met-X-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro-B, wherein X is selected from thegroup consisting of Lys, Arg and Asp; B is OH, NH₂, or NHAlk, whereinAlk is lower alkyl of 1-4 carbons, inclusive. The designations used forthe amino acids are those universally used and understood by thoseskilled in the art.

The peptide initially tested is where X is Lys. As shown in thefollowing Table 2, the arginine-substituted peptide blocked AVP functionat the same concentration as the original peptide, while theaspartate-substituted peptide was 50 percent less effective. Thevaline-substituted peptide did not block AVP function.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Effect of changes in the amino acid sequence of                               AVP-binding peptide on its ability to block IFN γ                       production*                                                                                   Minimal concentration                                                         needed to block IFN γ                                   AVP-binding peptide                                                                           production (μM)                                            ______________________________________                                        Original        150                                                           (Arg).sup.3     150                                                           (Asp).sup.3     300                                                           (Val).sup.3     >300                                                          ______________________________________                                         *The experiment was carried out as described in Table 1. All peptides wer     synthesized using a Biosearch 9500 peptide synthesizer. Data are              representative of at least 5 experiments.                                

EXAMPLE 3 Failure of AVP-Binding Peptide to Inhibit Binding of ³ H-AVPto Receptor on Splenic Lymphocyte

The question arises as to whether the AVP-binding peptide inhibitsfunction by blocking interaction of AVP with its receptor on thelymphocyte. As shown in Table 3, AVP-binding peptide at concentrationsas high as 10,000 μM had no effect on binding of 300 nM ³ H-AVP tolymphocyte receptors. By comparison, cold AVP did compete and block ³H-AVP binding. As we previously showed (Torres, B. A. and H. M. Johnson[1988] J. Immunol. 140:2179-2183), there are relative low numbers of AVPreceptors on lymphocytes and this is reflected by the high ratio oftotal to specific binding. Thus the AVP-binding peptide blocks AVPfunction by a mechanism(s) other than inhibition of interaction withreceptor.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Failure of AVP-binding peptide to inhibit binding                             of .sup.3 H--AVP to receptor on splenic lymphocyte                                             Conc.    DPM                                                 Competitor       (μM)  (Mean ± SD)                                      ______________________________________                                        None             --       4,965 ± 226                                      AVP                 0.1   5,265 ± 476                                                          1.0   4,209 ± 150                                                          10.0  3,621 ± 347                                                         100.0  3,577 ± 167                                      AVP-binding peptide                                                                             1,000.0 5,489 ± 123                                                       10,000.0 5,383 ± 450                                      ______________________________________                                    

Membranes were prepared as previously described (Torres and Johnson[1988] supra). Freshly dissociated spleen cells were incubated onplastic at 37° C. for 1 hr to remove adherent cells. Plates were washedand non-adherent cells were incubated for an additional hour at 37° C.Washed non-adherent cells were resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH7.4) containing 10 mM EGTA and 10 μM phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride(PMSF), which generally lysed any red blood cells in the preparation.Additional red blood cell lysis was performed using 10 mM potassiumbicarbonate buffer containing 16 mM ammonium chloride and 100 μMethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Cells were washed twice andsonicated on ice using a Fisher Model 300 Sonicator (Fisher Scientific,Pittsburgh, Pa.) with microprobe. Preparations were monitoredmicroscopically and were sonicated until greater than 95% cell rupturewas achieved. Sonicated preparations were centrifuged at 1000×g at 4° C.to remove debris and large particles. Supernatants were then spun at33,000 rpm (55,000×g) at 4° C. for 45 min in a Sorvall UTD65BUltracentrifuge (T1270 rotor) to isolate membranes. Resulting membranepreparations were resuspended in 50 mM Tris-HCl (ph 7.4) containing 10mM MgCL₂ and 10 μM PMSF, and aliquots were stored at -70° C.

Membranes (30 μg/ml) were incubated in a final volume of 200 μl withcold AVP and/or AVP-binding peptide for 20 min. prior to the addition of300 nM ³ H-AVP (specific activity, 70 Ci/mmol; New England Nuclear,Boston, Mass.). Binding was carried out at room temperature for 30 min.at which time samples were placed on ice to stop further binding.Membranes were washed through 0.45 μm filters (GVWP; Millipore, Bedford,MA) presoaked in 2% bovine serum albumin (BSA) with approximately50×volume of ice cold reaction buffer (50 mM tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 10 mMMgCl₂, 2% BSA, 10 μM PMSF). Filters were then placed in scintillationvials and radioactivity was counted on a beta-scintillation counter.

EXAMPLE 4 Failure of AVP-Binding Peptide to Block Pressinoic Acid (PA)Help in IFNγ Production

The ability of the AVP-binding peptide to block AVP function, but notblock binding to receptor, would suggest that the binding peptideconverts AVP into an antagonist of its own action. We tested thishypothesis by first determining the effect of the binding peptide on thePA helper signal for IFNγ production. PA exerts its helper effects onlymphocytes via interaction with the AVP receptor, which on thelymphocyte is novel and different from the V₁ receptor on hepatocytes(Torres and Johnson [1988] supra). The AVP-binding peptide failed toblock the PA helper signal for IFNγ production while at the same time itblocked that of AVP as illustrated in Table 4. Thus the intact AVPmolecule and not the functional PA cyclic ring is required for theblocking effect of the AVP-binding peptide.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Failure of AVP-binding peptide to block                                       pressinoic acid (PA) help in IFN γ production*                                       Helper    Binding                                                Mitogen-stimulated                                                                         peptide   peptide   IFN γ                                  spleen cell cultures                                                                       (nm)      (μM)   (U/ml ± SD)                               ______________________________________                                        Whole        --        --        85 ± 7                                    Helper cell depleted                                                                       --        --        <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                       AVP (100) --        73 ± 4                                    Helper cell depleted                                                                       AVP (100) 150       <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                       PA (10)   --        105 ± 21                                  Helper cell depleted                                                                       PA (10)   150       110 ± 14                                  ______________________________________                                         *Experiment was carried out as described in Table 1. Synthetic PA was         purchased from Peninsula Laboratories, Torrance, CA.                     

EXAMPLE 5 Complex of AVP and AVP-Binding Peptide Blocks Pressinoic Acid(PA) Help in IFNγ Production

Having established that the AVP-binding peptide alone cannot block thePA helper signal for IFNγ production, we would predict that the complexof AVP and binding peptide (which binds to the AVP receptor but lacksfunction) would reversibly block the PA helper signal. This was indeedthe case as shown in Table 5, where the complex of AVP and bindingpeptide blocked PA helper signal for IFNγ production. The blockage wasreversed by increasing the concentration of PA. Taken together, the datapresented provide compelling evidence that the AVP-binding peptideconverts AVP into an antagonist of its own action.

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Complex of AVP and AVP-binding peptide blocks                                 pressinoic acid (PA) help in IFN γ production*                                              Complex of AVP                                                                and binding                                                                   peptide                                                   Mitogen-stimulated                                                                        PA      (nM AVP:μM                                                                              IFN γ                                  spleen cell cultures                                                                      (nM)    peptide)     (U/ml ± SD)                               ______________________________________                                        Whole       --      --           200 ± 0                                   Helper cell depleted                                                                      --      --           <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                      --      100:150      <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                       3      --           <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                      10      --           185 ± 21                                  Helper cell depleted                                                                      30      --           250 ± 71                                  Helper cell depleted                                                                      30      100:150      <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                      300     100:150      <3                                           Helper cell depleted                                                                      1000    100:150      240 ± 57                                  ______________________________________                                         *Experiment was carried out as described in Table 1. Equal volumes of AVP     (200 nM) and AVPbinding peptide (300 μM) were incubated at room            temperature for 1 hr to form the AVP:AVPbinding peptide complex. The          complex was added to cultures at the final molar ratio indicated in the       table.                                                                   

EXAMPLE 6 Formulations and Treatment

The compounds of the invention can be used as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,719,199. Specifically, there can be administered parenterally, or byinsufflation, a nontoxic but effective amount of the compound, generallycombined with an inert pharmaceutical carrier, to an animal or human inneed of treatment to treat edema or to expel water. A suitable dosage ofthe active ingredient can be from about 5 mcg. to about 10 mg/kg,preferably about 0.1 to about 5 mg/kg, based on a 70 kg patient. Thedosage can be applied from about 1 to 5 times daily.

A suitable composition for control or suppression of AVP can be acompound of the invention in the form of a dosage unit, as describedabove, dissolved or suspended in a standard liquid carrier, for example,isotonic saline contained in ampoule or a suitable vial for use ininjection. A suitable composition for insufflation can be administeredin a standard metered dose applicator or inhaler. Various othercompositions can be used, for example, pulverized powder, oilypreparations, gels, buffers for isotonic preparations, emulsions oraerosols. The above compositions and means of administration are allwell known in the pharmaceutical art. The diluents and adjuvants usedwould be compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable. For example, asliquid compositions for oral administration, pharmaceutically acceptableemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups or elixirs containing inertdiluents, such as water or liquid paraffin, can be used. Thesecompositions can contain substances other than the diluents, e.g.,wetting, sweetening, or flavoring products.

The compositions for parenteral administration can be sterile aqueoussolutions, or they can be suspensions or emulsions. As a vehicle,polyethylene glycol, a polypropylene glycol, vegetable oils, especiallyolive oil, and injectable organic esters, e.g., ethyl oleate, can beemployed. These compositions can also contain adjuvants, especiallywetting agents, emulsifiers, or dispersants.

The compositions for intranasal administration can be sterile aqueoussolutions, or they can be suspensions or emulsions, which can optionallybe combined with a compatible propellant.

The compositions for rectal administration are suppositories which cancontain, in addition to the active product, excipients such as cocoabutter or a semi-synthetic glyceride.

Other suitable formulations of the active peptides in pharmaceuticallyacceptable diluents or carriers in therapeutic dosage form can beprepared by reference to general texts in the pharmaceutical field. See,for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, E. Arthur Osol, 16thed., 1980, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.

We claim:
 1. An AVP-binding peptide having the formula

    Thr-Met-X-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro-B

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg and Asp; Bis OH, NH₂ or NHAlk, wherein Alk is lower alkyl of 1-4 carbons,inclusive; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof. 2.The peptide, according to claim 1, wherein X is Lys.
 3. The peptide,according to claim 1, wherein X is Arg.
 4. The peptide, according toclaim 1, wherein X is Asp.
 5. A pharmaceutical composition havingAVP-binding activity comprising an effective amount of a peptide of theformula

    Thr-Met-X-Val-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Pro-B

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Lys, Arg and Asp; Bis OH, NH₂ or NHAlk, wherein Alk is lower alkyl of 1-4 carbons,inclusive; in combination with one or more diluents or adjuvants whichare compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable.
 6. The composition,according to claim 5, wherein X is Lys.
 7. The composition, according toclaim 5, wherein X is Arg.
 8. The composition, according to claim 5,wherein X is Asp.